Smith lost a final at the World Darts Championship for the second time. In 2019 he lost the final to Van Gerwen.
The first set went to 3-1 snakebite. The second leg was especially special, because the two finalists missed double on double on double. And immediately a striking moment: both darters complained about ‘wind in the room’.
Big Fish
With a nice 148 finish and one in the bull, the Scot also took the second set, again 3-1. bully boy had to immediately chase after: 2-0 in sets. A brilliant 167 finish from Smith gave him a break, which he desperately needed. In the end he also won the third set: 2-1 after three sets.
Wright went for the so-called Big Fish (170 finish) at the start of the fourth set, but the third arrow just didn’t disappear into the bull. Smith immediately took the leg win. In any case, the level of both players went up in this final. snakebite was also continuously whistled by the British public, very unsportsmanlike.
nail arrows
By the way, Smith was nailing some arrows: he threw 180’s galore, nevertheless the fourth set went to a fifth leg. bully boy was allowed to start and so he went first to the doubles, but he missed tops. However, Wright also missed two set arrows, Smith got away very mercifully. Because the Brit didn’t miss another chance: 2-2 in sets. In the meantime, the Scot had ‘just’ switched arrows.
The fifth set also went to a fifth leg. Smith had his chances, but it was Wright who took the set: 3-2. By the way, bully boy Meanwhile, a record broken by Gary Anderson: he threw his 72nd 180 of the World Cup. And that, only halfway through the game.
Throw in your own glasses
Smith was allowed to go to double 8 for the win in the sixth set and that gave him the set. Standings: 3-3. The British darts player got a taste of it and immediately went on to win the next set. The so-called momentum Wright was completely lost.
However, the Scot showed resilience and threw the game to 4-4. What a final. The two gave each other nothing as gifts: the ninth set also went to a fifth leg. snakebite then started giving it away in his own set. He had several chances to throw it out, but also threw in his own glass by going for it at 170, while Smith was some distance away. It eventually cost him the leg and the set, 5-4 to Smith.
Peter Wright looks at it all for a moment.
ⓒ Lawrence Lustig/PDC
for real
And yes, set number 10 also went to a fifth leg. This was one for real: Wright really had to get this one. snakebite aimed for tops and instead of the exit he returned all the way into the game: 5-5.
And snakebite continued: he quickly reached 3-0 and thus already won 6 legs in a row: 6-5 Wright. Smith then missed bullseye, but Wright didn’t: 1-0. And that while Smith turned out to be a 180 machine this final. He also broke the record in a final. But it did become 2-0 in this set: Wright needed one more leg. bully boy took it, but a leg later Wright had a chance for the world title: 7-5 in sets.
Averages
Wright came to an average of 98.34, Smith recorded a slightly higher average with 99.22. In the important moments, however, Wright looked just a little more confident. The averages were strongly influenced by the remarkable first set, in which both missed a remarkable number of arrows on a double in the second leg.
Wright, who was credited £500,000, was placed second at Alexandra Palace. He succeeds first-seeded Gerwyn Price from Wales, who lost to Smith in the quarter-finals.
Wright response
“I am completely over the moon. I did it again. We haven’t played the darts we can. I don’t know what went wrong for ninety percent of the game, I kept switching my arrows. I won it tonight, but Michael’s time is coming up. He is the future of darts.”